'The Gown' is the independent student newspaper at Queen's University. The paper, founded in 1955, is run voluntarily by students and funded entirely by advertising without University or Students' Union assistance.
From terrorism to teletubbies, prostitution parties to political protests, 'The Gown' has reported it all, providing a colourful account of life within the University and within Northern Ireland.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

New Issue Out Now

TheGown's final issue of this academic year is available on campus now.

A man was found dead at a house on University Street two weeks ago. We talk exclusively to two students intimidated from Jerusalem Street as a result of his verbal abuse and physical damage to property. Four other households left the street between October 2007 and last month.

We delve into the lives of Romanian immigrants in South Belfast - How much do we really know about the reality behind the frequent request to, "Buy a rose?".

In this 40th anniversary year of the first civil rights protests of 1968, The Gown features former Queen's students, Bernadette McAliskey and Austin Currie as well as activists currently at the University.

Are you offended? Check out the results of our survey of a number of Queen's students and decide for yourself. Has the world gone PC mad?

Read about all of this plus the usual Student Shouts, Toilet Talk, The Hood and much more!

16 Comments:

I could hardly believe the lack of taste, humanity, decency and journalistic competency shown by the cover story of this issue. The article appears to openly celebrate the death of a young man. Quoting the student saying that his death would have 'come as a relief' in the opening paragraphs is staggeringly tasteless, i only hope Mr Arbuckle's family have no access to the Gown. The entire content of the article refers to a series of unsubstantiated allegations verging on slander. As well as the unproven allegations of arson, the way in which Pat McCarthy's comments have been used imples, whether by intent or by sheer clumsiness, that Mr Arbuckle was guilty of sexual offences. It is a cowardly act to use a man's death as an opportunity to publish these kinds of speculation. Even worse that is has been done in the spirit of near-triumphalism.However pleasant or unpleasant someone's behaviour may be during their life, there is no justification for publishing this kind of shameful diatribe on the occasion of their death. This is a disgraceful piece of writing I would be loathe to call journalism.Where is your decency?

“to this island” Are you in the DUP? Your republican speak sounds suspiciously like that of their leader. As long as people who talk about “this island” oppose me I will know I am doing something right.

All students will agree with the article.why the hell wouldn't they? It paints students in a good light for a change and demonstrates that the problems in the Holy Lands aren't all student related. And, yeah, ok, there's no solid evidence to prove that.....but come on....paul arbuckle? I think we all know he was a bad egg.

The only mistake that was made was to put two valid stories together which could be interpreted as linking this scumbag to the atonishingly high number of sex offenders and attacks in south Belfast.

The tone did not celebrate his death, but rather showed how he had used his life to make the lives of others miserable. At the end of the day he was someone's son and I think everyone feels sorry for their tragic loss.

However, neither your good points or your death cancel out a life of evil - Hitler built a great transport infrastructure, got rid of unemployment and gave stability to a country that previoulsy had none, but he still killed six million Jews...

young man, perhaps criminal and troubled, but obviously vulnerable nonetheless, dies. students celebrate. kinda reminds me of the student reaction when it was announced over the su pa that edgar graham had been murdered across the road in front of qub. 'liberal', socialist and republican students revel in the deaths and misfortunes of others. no real news story or amnesty international outcry here.